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Dear International Students: Now that Spring 2018 semester has begun, please remember that all F-1 and J-1 visa international students must study on a full time basis every semester. Full time means you are taking a minimum of: * Bachelor's - 12 credits/semester * Master's/PhD, with graduate assistantship - 6 credits/semester * Master's/PhD, no graduate assistantship - 9 credits/per semester * Exchange and non-degree students: 12 credits (1000-4000 level courses) or 9 credits (5000- 6000 level courses)/semester * JD students - 12 credits/semester * UCAELI - 22 hours/week. Some international students may be eligible to take less than a full time course load, but you need ISSS approval to do so. You might be eligible to enroll on a part-time basis for the following reasons: REASON: LAST SEMESTER IN PROGRAM Deadline to submit request: Monday, January 29th If you will complete your program in spring semester, and you do not require full time enrollment to complete your program, you may register for only those credits you need. How to apply: Please complete the Reduced Course Load form<http://isss.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/76/2016/02/ISSS_914_RCL_Authorization_Request.pdf> with your academic advisor and submit to ISSS before the 10th day of Spring semester. If you will finalize your schedule during add/drop week, please wait until your schedule is set before you submit the form to ISSS. Storrs campus students should submit the form in person to ISSS. UConn Stamford campus students should submit the form directly to Lulu Dong in room 301F. UConn Hartford/GBLC students may submit the form to Neena Kapoor, GBLC Room 415 A/B during Walk In Advising and Application Submission Hours<https://isss.uconn.edu/hartford/>. School of Law students may submit their forms by e-mail to Neena Kapoor at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. All other students may email their forms to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. After we process your application, you will receive a new Form I-20/DS-2019 with updated program end date, if it differs from your current I-20/DS-2019 program end date. This reduced course load option is only for students enrolled in degree programs- it is not available for exchange, non-degree or UCAELI students. REASON: ACADEMIC DIFFICULTY Earliest date to request: Tuesday, January 23 All students who are not in their final semester must enroll and attend classes on a full time basis from the start of each semester. If you find that you are having difficulties keeping up with a full time course load, you may speak to an ISSS advisor about the possibility to enroll on a part-time basis. You may enroll on a part-time basis one time per degree level, if you are experiencing academic difficulties for one of the following reasons: 1) Initial difficulties with English language 2) Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods 3) Reading requirements 4) Improper course level placement. How to apply: Visit ISSS during walk-in advising hours to discuss your situation with an advisor, and find out if you qualify to enroll part-time for academic difficulties. Students at the Stamford and Hartford campuses should visit the ISSS Stamford and ISSS Hartford offices during their advising hours. Generally, only students in the first year of their program will qualify for a Reduced Course Load for academic difficulties. If you drop below full time before getting ISSS approval, this is a violation of your student visa, and your SEVIS record will be terminated. REASON: MEDICAL CONDITION/ILLNESS - PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH If you are seeing a doctor for physical or mental health issues, and you are unable to manage a full course of study, you might be eligible to reduce your course load or withdraw from courses for a temporary period. To qualify, you must have medical documentation confirming your condition from a licensed medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or licensed clinical psychologist (including PhD or Psy.D). How to apply: Make an appointment with your ISSS advisor if you may need to take a reduced course load for medical reasons. To find the international advisor for students in your program, visit the ISSS Staff<http://isss.uconn.edu/about/staff-directory/> webpage. You can schedule an appointment with your international advisor online by visiting https://sandbox.uconn.edu/. When medically possible, you must obtain Reduced Course Load authorization from ISSS before you stop attending or withdraw from classes - otherwise this is a violation of your student visa, and your SEVIS record will be terminated. In cases where students are hospitalized/medically incapable of submitting an advance request, this requirement is waived. LEAVE OF ABSENCE: If you will take a leave of absence (LOA) for the Spring 2018 semester, you must contact your international advisor at ISSS as soon as possible to discuss the impact on your student visa. Visit the ISSS Staff<http://isss.uconn.edu/about/staff-directory/> webpage to find the designated international advisor for students in your program. STUDY / RESEARCH ABROAD: All F-1 and J-1 international students who will study abroad or pursue full-time research outside of the U.S. during Spring 18 semester must contact their international advisor at ISSS as soon as possible to discuss the impact on your F-1/J-1 visa. Visit the ISSS Staff<https://isss.uconn.edu/about/staff-directory/> webpage to find the designated international advisor for students in your program. Visit the ISSS webpage for more information on study requirements and reduced course load<http://isss.uconn.edu/students/current-students/study-requirements-for-f-1j-1-students/> eligibility. Please contact ISSS if you have any questions at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. The above requirements do not apply to international visiting scholars who are here for research/teaching on J-1 visas. Rae Alexander Director International Student and Scholar Services UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT GLOBAL AFFAIRS 2011 Hillside Road, U-1083 STORRS, CT 06269-1083 PHONE: 860.486.3855 | EMAIL: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> http://isss.uconn.edu<http://isss.uconn.edu/> | www.facebook.com/UConnISSS<http://www.facebook.com/UConnISSS> | ISSS Walk-In Advising: MON - FRI: 1:00 - 3:30 pm ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the INTERNATIONAL-L list, click the following link: https://ListServ.Uconn.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=INTERNATIONAL-L&A=1